Blue city, big fort

I've been waking about 10 minutes before my alarm for most of this trip but today, the alarm did it's thing and woke me at 6.15. All good and we were on the bus and ready to go at the intended time - 7.30.

The road out of Jaipur was very similar to other roads we've taken although there did appear to be more space and marginally less mayhem. Maybe that's because we were heading towards a more agrarian part of the country . . . . . or maybe it's because I'm getting used to it?

The towny-ness soon gave way to fields and farm workers and it was interesting watching the more rural scene develop. It seemed to be pretty evenly split between males and females working in the fields but there is still a predominance of men at the roadside 'cafes', where they apparently just gather to gossip! It was a long journey which was broken after about 90 minutes with a pee and tea stop . . . indian tea, that is.

Actuall, I've had a bad cold for the past few days which caused me to almost totally lose my voice for a day or so. It's now at the gravelly, almost sexy stage but it's moved to my chest and is causing me to cough quite a bit. To help me, my tea was a special brew of tea, ginger and honey and very nice it was too.

Another stop a couple of hours or so later for lunch. This place wouldn't win any brownie points for service speed though the food was delicious. By now the roads, even though they are main roads, are pitted with potholes, unfinished roadworks, speed bumps, farmers herding goats and various other things that make it difficult for a driver to maintain a constant speed. I noticed that our driver had taken to driving pretty much down the middle of the road and would make last second adjustments when anything passed us from the oncoming directon. I'm sure that drivers in both England and New Zealand (and probably most European and North American countries too) would be honking horns, waving fists or pulling the finger at a driver who did this but these guys just carry on and accept it with great trust in their fellow road users. We were passing trucks and buses with what felt like only inches between us but oddly enough, I did feel safe. Our drivers have been very good.

Bt mid afternoon dwellings started to become more numerous until we arrived at the outskirts of Jodhpur - the Blue City. The skyline began to reveal temples and fortresses and then the boundary walls of the Mehrangarth Fort led the eye to the highest point in the area where the fort itself stood. We were given headsets so we could complete the tour of the museum part of the for at our own pace - though we couldn't hang around as they shut the gates at 5.30! What a fascinating place - so different to anything else we've seen architecturally, though the focus here was more on the artefacts than the fortess itself. It was full of things like ancient armour, daggers, paladins, paintings, fabrics . . . . all utterly fascinating.

Following the tour of the fort we headed into Jodhpur to savour what is claimed to be India's best lassi. I certainly enjoyed it :)

Now at the Polo Heritage hotel which feels rather grand - it's the first time I think we've atayed at a hotel that has been beyond the noise of the city . . . . . just cicadas and the whispering breeze.

Time now to go and sit in the breeze and take some refreshment.